Akt kinases in breast cancer and the results of adjuvant therapy

BACKGROUND: The serine/threonine kinase Akt, or protein kinase B, has recently been a focus of interest because of its activity to inhibit apoptosis. It mediates cell survival by acting as a transducer of signals from growth factor receptors that activate phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase. METHODS: We analysed the expression of the isoforms Akt1 and Akt2 as well as phosphorylated Akt (pAkt) by immunohistochemistry in frozen tumour samples from 280 postmenopausal patients who participated in a randomised trial comparing cyclophosphamide–methotrexate–5-fluorouracil chemotherapy and postoperative radiotherapy. The patients were simultaneously randomised to tamoxifen or to no endocrine treatment. RESULTS: Marked staining was found in 24% of the tumours for Akt1, but in only 4% for Akt2. A low frequency of Akt2-positive cells (1–10%) was observed in another 26% of the tumours. pAkt was significantly associated with both Akt1 and Akt2 expression. Overexpression of erbB2 correlated significantly with pAkt (P = 0.0028). The benefit from tamoxifen was analysed in oestrogen receptor (ER)-positive patients. Patients with a negative status of Akt (no overexpression of Akt1, Akt2 or pAkt) showed significant benefit from tamoxifen. The relative rate of distant recurrence, with versus without tamoxifen, was 0.44 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.25–0.79) for ER+/Akt1- patients, while it was 0.72 (95% CI, 0.34–1.53) for ER+/Akt1+ patients. The difference in rate ratio did not reach statistical significance. The rate of locoregional recurrence was significantly decreased with radiotherapy versus chemotherapy for Akt-negative patients (rate ratio, 0.23; 95% CI, 0.08–0.67; P = 0.0074), while no benefit was evident for the Akt-positive subgroup (rate ratio, 0.77; 95% CI, 0.31–1.9; P = 0.58). The interaction between Akt and the efficacy of radiotherapy was significant in multivariate analysis (P = 0.042). CONCLUSION: Activation of the Akt pathway is correlated with erbB2 overexpression in breast cancer. The results suggest that Akt may predict the local control benefit from radiotherapy

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Developing an educational tool for simulations of quantum key distribution systems

Quantum key distribution (QKD) is the idea of using quantum systems to securely communicate a shared encryption key between two parties. In contrast to classical methods of encryption, QKD utilizes fundamental quantum properties such as superposition and entanglement to encode information in a way that guarantees security. Most QKD systems are based on sending photons in an optical fiber where the polarisation of the photons is the quantum property used to encode information. The different algorithms used to do this are referred to as QKD protocols. This thesis aimed to construct an educational tool to simulate simple QKD systems using four common QKD protocols, where the user can vary system parameters and study its effect on the results. Furthermore, the aim was to be able to produce simulation results that are accurate enough to provide a first approximation of how a real experimental setup would perform. The program was built in Python using the Qiskit library and all the desired features were implemented in a graphical interface. For one of the implemented protocols (BB84) the simulation results were compared to experimental data from a QKD experiment in Copenhagen, which indicated that the program is able to produce a useful first approximation of a real experimental setup. The program could be further improved by allowing for simulations of more complex systems

Developing an educational tool for simulations of quantum key distribution systems

Quantum key distribution (QKD) is the idea of using quantum systems to securely communicate a shared encryption key between two parties. In contrast to classical methods of encryption, QKD utilizes fundamental quantum properties such as superposition and entanglement to encode information in a way that guarantees security. Most QKD systems are based on sending photons in an optical fiber where the polarisation of the photons is the quantum property used to encode information. The different algorithms used to do this are referred to as QKD protocols. This thesis aimed to construct an educational tool to simulate simple QKD systems using four common QKD protocols, where the user can vary system parameters and study its effect on the results. Furthermore, the aim was to be able to produce simulation results that are accurate enough to provide a first approximation of how a real experimental setup would perform. The program was built in Python using the Qiskit library and all the desired features were implemented in a graphical interface. For one of the implemented protocols (BB84) the simulation results were compared to experimental data from a QKD experiment in Copenhagen, which indicated that the program is able to produce a useful first approximation of a real experimental setup. The program could be further improved by allowing for simulations of more complex systems

Data Acquisition Architecture for HVDC Grids

The climate crisis has caused many countries around the world to invest in large amounts of renewable energy. To be able to handle the intrinsic unreliability and geographic de- pendency of many renewable energy sources, HVDC technology is considered due to its low cost when transferring electricity across great distances. Traditional AC grids are controlled with 15-minute intervals at control centers, but HVDC grids require a faster control due to more power fluctuations within the grid. The aim of this project was to propose an architecture for a gateway in a control center for an HVDC grid. The gateway was programmed in C and C++ and the data was sent using UDP packets. Testing of the gateway was done using a real-time simulation of an HVDC grid. The data was sent with intervals smaller than a second which satisfied the speed requirements for this project. A gateway like the one developed in this project can be implemented at control centers to display and process data and to improve the overall reliability of an HVDC grid.

Distant recurrence-free survival for oestrogen receptor (ER)-positive patients treated with tamoxifen (TAM) or not (no TAM) in relation to Akt status

<p><b>Copyright information:</b></p><p>Taken from "Akt kinases in breast cancer and the results of adjuvant therapy"</p><p>Breast Cancer Research 2003;5(2):R37-R44.</p><p>Published online 20 Jan 2003</p><p>PMCID:PMC154147.</p><p>Copyright © 2003 Stål et al., licensee BioMed Central Ltd. This is an Open Access article: verbatim copying and redistribution of this article are permitted in all media for any non-commercial purpose, provided this notice is preserved along with the article's original URL.</p

Locoregional recurrence-free probability for patients treated with postoperative radiotherapy (RT) or cyclophosphamide–methotrexate–5-fluorouracil (CMF) chemotherapy in relation to Akt status

<p><b>Copyright information:</b></p><p>Taken from "Akt kinases in breast cancer and the results of adjuvant therapy"</p><p>Breast Cancer Research 2003;5(2):R37-R44.</p><p>Published online 20 Jan 2003</p><p>PMCID:PMC154147.</p><p>Copyright © 2003 Stål et al., licensee BioMed Central Ltd. This is an Open Access article: verbatim copying and redistribution of this article are permitted in all media for any non-commercial purpose, provided this notice is preserved along with the article's original URL.</p

A cereal-based evening meal rich in indigestible carbohydrates increases plasma butyrate the next morning

Epidemiological studies have shown an inverse relation between a whole grain consumption and risk of type-2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. One tentative mechanism relates to colonic metabolism of indigestible carbohydrates. In a previous study, we reported a positive relation between colonic fermentation and improved glucose tolerance. This work can be seen as an extension of that study, focusing on the tentative role of specific colonic metabolites, i.e. SCFA. Plasma concentrations of acetate, propionate, and butyrate were determined in the morning in healthy participants (5 women and 10 men, mean +/- SD: 25.9 +/- 3.2 y, BMI < 25) following 8 different cereal-based evening meals (50 g available starch) varying in content of indigestible carbohydrates. Each participant consumed all test meals in a random order on separate evenings. At a standardized breakfast following evening test meals, the postprandial glucose response (incremental area under the curve, 0-120 min) was inversely related to plasma butyrate (r = -0.26; P < 0.01) and acetate (r = -0.20; P < 0.05) concentrations. Evening meals composed of high-amylose barley kernels or high-beta-glucan barley kernels resulted in higher plasma butyrate concentrations the following morning compared with an evening meal with white wheat bread (P < 0.05). The results support the view that cereal products rich in indigestible carbohydrates may improve glucose tolerance through a mechanism involving colonic fermentation and generation of SCFA, where in particular butyric acid may be involved. This mechanism may be one explanation by which whole grain is protective against type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease